The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-09
Continuous Steam Heating for Pas
senger Cars.

To the Editor Of the Press:
The writer has been greatly interested the
past winter in following up the devices for
heating passenger cars safely that have been
brought out by the list of accidents on the
railroads, where fire has played such terrible
part.
With your permission, will now speak Of
a device which heads the list in point Of me-
chanical skill. The ''Sewall Safety Heating
System" is the result of years of experiment
and cost. 1t was shown In its perfected state
to the public by its owners, on the 9th Of Feb
ruary, for the first time. at the New England
Railway Club, Boston.
Allow me, then, to say, among the gentle.
men composing this club are to be found
some of the best practical mechanics in tie
world.
Up TO this time two or three other systems
had been shown and spoken of, but without
any apparent effect upon the minds of these
gentlemen. who considered them impractical
Bile and of no worth.
By special invitation, the general manager
of the ''Sewall System" was invited to pre-
sent the merits Of this system before the
club at this time, and never was speaker
received with such marked attention.
The device for controlling the heat in each
car. the coupler and rubber hose which con-
veyed the steam from engine to car, and so
through the train, were called marvels of
mechanical skin. One gentleman, a well
known authority on the subject, who was
present and operated these parts with his
own hands, said, turning to the speaker
'sYou have solved the question. With this
system continuous steam heating is posi-
ble."
Since then what has been the result?
Wherever shown it has made friends at once,
and it has in no case ever failed in the slight
est particular. 1t does its work as thor
oughly in the most intense cold, as in
milder weather. 1t Is endorsed by
General Manager Payson Tucker, in the
strongest terms, after close, critical and
constant examination by his mechanical de-
partment, during the very severe winter
through which we have passed, while In con-
slant daily service, making continuous run
of a hundred and forty miles. 1t is now in
actual use ON four Of the principal railroads
of our country, reaching from Bangor to
Chicago, with the prospect Of its adoption
on many other railways this season.
Its true merit has been the sole secret OF
its rapid introduction, and this was brought
out through the knowledge and needs of the
subject by the inventor, Mr.. James III. Sew
all, who, in mechanical skill, ability and in
tegrlty, Is second to no man in this country.
He is the mechanical superintendent OF
this company, and is now experimenting
trains equipped with this system on the
Michigan Central railroad, from whose gem
eral manager, Mr.. Miller, comes the same
words of approval as from Payson Tucker.
Esq With Mr.. Sewall as the mechanical
head, this system will be a mechanical sue
cess. and that it has already attained success
Is plainly seen by the amount Of business ii
has done in so short a time.
1t supplies great public need, is philan-
thropic In its relation TO public safety, and
economical and progressive in its relation to
railway interests. w.